Lifting platform

ABSTRACT

A lifting platform includes a base, two “T”-shaped parallel sliding grooves in supporting bars, two wheels, a platform, and a cylinder. Each wheel is held away from the internal far rolling surface of each sliding groove in an original position because of the orientation of the connected platform, but can contact and rest upon the rolling surface and further roll along the rolling surface when the platform is rotated. A hydraulic or air-driven piston rod of the cylinder can push the platform to first rotate and then move upward. The platform is transitionable between: (i) an inclined configuration in which each first wheel is in the original position; (ii) a horizontal configuration in which each first wheel contacts and rests upon a sliding groove; and (iii) a lifting configuration in which each first wheel rolls along a sliding groove.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to movable platforms.

BACKGROUND

There are many circumstances in which it is required to adjust an inclined angle of an object (such as a workpiece for assembly or testing) and/or lift the object from a low level to a higher level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a lifting platform in an inclined configuration.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lifting platform in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the lifting platform in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the lifting platform in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a sliding block of the lifting platform in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the lifting platform of FIG. 1 in a substantially horizontal configuration.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the lifting platform of FIG. 1 in a lifting configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an embodiment of a lifting platform 1. The lifting platform 1 includes a base 10, at least two supporting bars 20 secured to the base 10 at an angle, a sliding groove 21 defined in each supporting bar 20, at least two first wheels 26, a platform 30, and a cylinder 41. The sliding grooves 21 are parallel to each other. FIGS. 1-5 only show two sliding grooves 21 and two first wheels 26. However, the number of the supporting bars 20, the sliding grooves 21, or the first wheels 26 can be varied. In at least one embodiment, the lifting platform 1 includes only one supporting bar 20 in which the sliding groove 21 are defined.

Each sliding groove 21 is angled from the base 10. Each sliding groove 21 of the supporting bar 20 has an internal flat surface (hereinafter “an internal surface”) opposite an opening slit, the opening slit being closest to the platform 30. FIG. 2 illustrates that each first wheel 26, in its original position, is spaced from the internal surface of one sliding groove 21. FIGS. 6-7 illustrate that each first wheel 26 can contact the internal surface of one sliding groove 21, and further roll along the internal surface of the sliding groove 21. The platform 30 is coupled to the first wheels 26. The platform 30 can be rotated by a preset angle to cause each first wheel 26 to contact and rest upon the internal surface of a sliding groove 21. The platform 30 can further be moved away from the base 10, each first wheel 26 then rolling along the internal surface of the sliding groove 21. The cylinder 41, such as a hydraulic or air cylinder, includes a piston rod 410 which is able to extend out of the cylinder 41 to cause rotation and other movement of the platform 30.

The platform 30 is transitionable between: (i) an inclined configuration 100 (shown in FIG. 1) in which each first wheel 26 is in the original position; (ii) a substantially horizontal configuration 200 (shown in FIG. 6) in which each first wheel 26 contacts and rests upon the internal surface of a sliding groove 21, and the sliding grooves 21 then prevent the platform 30 from rotating further; and (iii) a lifting configuration 300 (shown in FIG. 7) in which each first wheel 26 rolls along the internal surface of a sliding groove 21. In (iii), the platform 30 is in a raised configuration.

In at least one embodiment, the base 10 includes a supporting portion 11 and two arms 12 extending from opposite ends of the supporting portion 11. Each arm 12 includes at least one second wheel 14 at a bottom thereof. As such, the lifting platform 1 can be moved on a supporting surface (e.g., a floor) via the second wheel 14. The supporting bars 20 are secured to the supporting portion 11. The supporting bars 20 are substantially perpendicular to the supporting portion 11, and spaced from each other.

In at least one embodiment, the lifting platform 1 further includes a pump 42. The pump 42 is coupled to the cylinder 41, and includes an operating portion 420. The piston rod 410 extends outward by a preset distance to push against the platform 30 each time the operation portion 420 is operated. In detail, the operation portion 420 is a pedal. More specifically, the pump 42 can further include a button 421. When the button 421 is pressed, the piston rod 410 retracts inward by a preset distance to release the platform 30 each time the operation portion 420 is operated. Then, the platform 30 is able to move from the lifting configuration 300 to the substantially horizontal configuration 200, and further to the inclined configuration 100, and the platform 30 drops in height.

In at least one embodiment, the platform 30 is coupled to the two first wheels 26 via two connecting members 24. Each connecting member 24 includes a first portion 240 and an opposite second portion 241. The first portion 240 of each connecting member 24 is rotatably connected to one first wheel 26. The platform 30 is secured to the second portion 241 of each connecting member 24. The connecting members 24 are configured to rotate/move with the platform 30. The platform 30 can be integrally formed with the connecting members 24.

Each sliding groove 21 retains a sliding block 22. The sliding blocks 22 are configured to slide with the first wheels 26 along the sliding grooves 21. Each connecting member 24 further includes a third portion 242 between the first portion 240 and the second portion 241. Each sliding block 22 is rotatably connected to the third portion 242 of a connecting member 24 via a first shaft 23. That is, the platform 30 is coupled to the sliding blocks 22 via the connecting members 24. In at least one embodiment, each sliding groove 21 is substantially “T”-shaped in cross section. Each sliding block 22 includes a main body 220 and two limiting portions 221 extending from opposite sides of the main body 220. The limiting portions 221 of each sliding block 22 create a dimension which is wider than the internal width of a sliding groove 21, thereby preventing the sliding blocks 22 and the platform 30 coupled thereto from disengaging from the sliding grooves 21.

In at least one embodiment, each first portion 240 is rotatably connected to a first wheel 26 via a second shaft 25.

In at least one embodiment, an underside (back surface) of the platform 30 is rotatably connected to the piston rod 410. In detail, the back surface of the platform 30 includes a first securing member 31. The first securing member 31 includes a third shaft 32. The back surface of the platform 30 is rotatably connected to the piston rod 410 via the third shaft 32. Then, the piston rod 410 pushes against the platform 30 via the third shaft 32. In at least one embodiment, the first securing member 31 and the third shaft 32 can be omitted. The back surface of the platform 30 includes a rib 33 substantially perpendicular to the piston rod 410. The piston rod 410 directly abuts against the rib 33 and pushes against the platform 30 via the rib 33.

In at least one embodiment, the supporting portion 11 further includes a second securing member 40. The second securing member 40 includes a fourth shaft 43. An end portion 411 of the hydraulic 41 opposite to the piston rod 410 is rotatably connected to the fourth shaft 43.

It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A lifting platform comprising: a base; at least one supporting bar connected to the base at an angle; at least two parallel sliding grooves defined in the at least one supporting bar; at least two first wheels each spaced from an internal surface of one sliding groove in an original position, and configured to contact the internal surface of the sliding groove and further roll along the internal surface of the sliding groove; a platform coupled to the at least two first wheels, configured to be rotated by a preset angle to cause each first wheel to contact the internal surface of the sliding groove, and further configured to be moved away from the base to cause each first wheel to roll along the internal surface of the sliding groove; and a cylinder having a piston rod configured to extend out of the cylinder to cause a rotation or movement of the platform; wherein the platform is further transitionable between: (i) an inclined configuration in which each first wheel is in the original position; (ii) a substantially horizontal configuration in which each first wheel contacts the internal surface of the sliding groove; and (iii) a lifting configuration in which each first wheel rolls along the internal surface of the sliding groove.
 2. The lifting platform of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a supporting portion and two arms extending from opposite ends of the supporting portion, each arm comprises at least one second wheel at a bottom thereof.
 3. The lifting platform of claim 2, wherein at least two supporting bars are secured to the supporting portion, substantially perpendicular to the supporting portion, and spaced from each other; and each sliding groove is defined in one supporting bar.
 4. The lifting platform of claim 2, wherein a pump is coupled to the cylinder and comprises an operating portion; the piston rod extends outward by a preset distance to push against the platform each time the operation portion is operated.
 5. The lifting platform of claim 4, wherein the pump further comprises a button, when the button is pressed, the piston rod retracts inward by a preset distance to release the platform each time the operation portion is operated.
 6. The lifting platform of claim 1, wherein the platform is coupled to each first wheel via a connecting member; each connecting member comprises a first portion and an opposite second portion; the first portion of each connecting member is rotatably connected to one first wheel; the second portion of each connecting member is secured to the platform; and the connecting members are configured to rotate/move with the platform.
 7. The lifting platform of claim 6, wherein the platform is integrally formed with the connecting members.
 8. The lifting platform of claim 6, wherein each of the at least two sliding groove retains a sliding block; the at least two sliding blocks are configured to slide with the first wheels along the at least two sliding grooves; each connecting member further comprises a third portion between the first portion and the second portion; each sliding block is rotatably connected to the third portion of one connecting member.
 9. The lifting platform of claim 8, wherein each sliding block is rotatably connected to the third portion of the connecting member via a first shaft.
 10. The lifting platform of claim 8, wherein each sliding groove is substantially “T”-shaped in cross section and comprises a main body and two limiting portions extending from opposite sides of the main body; the limiting portions of each sliding block creates a dimension wider than an internal width one sliding groove, thereby preventing the sliding blocks and the platform coupled thereto from disengaging from the sliding grooves.
 11. The lifting platform of claim 6, wherein each first portion is rotatably connected to one first wheel via a second shaft.
 12. The lifting platform of claim 1, wherein a back surface of the platform is rotatably connected to the piston rod.
 13. The lifting platform of claim 12, wherein the back surface of the platform comprises a first securing member; the first securing member comprises a third shaft; and the back surface of the platform is rotatably connected to the piston rod via the third shaft.
 14. The lifting platform of claim 1, wherein a back surface of the platform comprises a rib substantially perpendicular to the piston rod; the piston rod abuts against the rib and pushes against the platform via the rib.
 15. The lifting platform of claim 2, wherein the supporting portion further comprises a second securing member, the second securing member comprises a fourth shaft; an end portion of the cylinder opposite to the piston rod is rotatably connected to the fourth shaft.
 16. A lifting apparatus comprising: a base; at least two supporting bars connected to the base at an angle, each of the at least two supporting bars having a sliding groove; at least two first wheels rollably fitted within the sliding grooves; a platform coupled to the at least two first wheels; and an extending device attached to the platform; wherein, each sliding groove includes an opening slit along the supporting bar and a flat internal surface opposite the opening slit; wherein, when the extending device is un-extended, the at least two first wheels are not in contact with the sliding groove internal surface and the platform is in an inclined position; wherein, when the extending device initially extends, the at least two first wheels make contact with the sliding groove internal surface moving the platform into a substantially horizontal position; and wherein, when the extending device continues to extend, the at least two wheels roll along the sliding groove internal surface lifting the platform.
 17. The lifting platform of claim 16, wherein the extending device is a cylinder having a piston rod, the piston rod is configured to extend out of the cylinder to moving or lifting the platform. 